WWII MEMORIAL: Jewel of the Mall

Chicago, Arizona, New Mexico stay dry!

We had some bad weather forecast today in DC and while it was gray, the rains held off while Arizona, New Mexico and Chicago Honor Flights were at the Memorial.  Jim McLoughlin and Susan Barr are in town for a few days supervising the variety of flights that are arriving. Honor Flight is a phenomena...and phenomenally successful.  It has required the committment of thousands and thousands of people and will be regarded positively for all time. The photos are available for personal use by Veterans and their families.

 

"Heroes Welcome" begins transporting veterans

Lona Ichikawa has taken on a new role with Heroes' Welcome the organization that traditionally welcomes WWII Veterans to the BWI, Reagan and Dulles Airports. They are transporting their first bus trip from Northern Virginia.  The buses depart from American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax on October 2, 2011.  If you would like to be a guardian, you can get in touch with Lona through the Heroes' Welcome website.  They were recently given some press by the Vienna Connection and a lot of support from local volunteers.

Jewel of the Mall Online

"WWII Memorial: Jewel of the Mall" is now online!

The Mall

I've been scanning seemingly zillions of photographs I've taken over the past thirty years.  Today, I found this picture taken in 1997.  It was made on an early Fall morning for an advertising poster for Australian Radio.  At that time, the big reflecting pool was practically always empty and the Memorial's original pool was a littered mess. While the two pictures are not taken with the same lens or exactly the same location, it's an interesting comparison.  The Memorial has improved the and added some zest to the Mall. The old picture was taken from across the street while the bottom picture was taken in 2004 and about 100 feet down into the Memorial by the bas reliefs.  One of the sidebars of the construction is that the main reflecting pool running from the Lincoln to the WWII Memorial got a five million dollar rehab and is now much more attractive.  The pool currently inside the Memorial is 80 percent the size of the original.

"Horizon to Horizon"

My photography has taken on a new mobility. Take a look at the pictures of Earl Morse's new RV which was donated to Honor Flight. "Pimp My Ride, Dude!!!" In my wildest dreams, I never thought of my photographs on wheels.  I can't wait for the Park Service to see it.  If only I could sell books out of the back window of the RV down by the Memorial. Who needs that kiosk?  If you look closely at the pictures, you see characters from Honor Flights and scenes from the book and blog.  It's a new medium for me and as Earl said to the Priceless Images Company who apparently did the work, it's "jaw dropping" and so it is.   I've got some thoughts for my motorcycle which would then maybe be a "tax deduction"....now that's jaw dropping!